With an aim of improving passenger convenience and fairness, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airlines in India to reserve at least 60% of seats on every flight as free of cost. The announcement was made through an official press release, outlining a set of new guidelines for airlines to ensure better transparency and uniformity in services.

60% seats to be free of cost

As per the new directive, airlines must ensure that a minimum of 60% of seats on all flights are provided free of cost to passengers. In addition, the government has introduced a series of directives for airlines to “strengthen passenger convenience, transparency and uniformity of practices”, according to the official release.

Until now, only a limited number of seats were offered free during booking or check-in, with airlines often charging additional fees for preferred seating. The new rule is expected to standardise this practice across carriers.

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Passengers on same booking to be seated together

Another key instruction focuses on seating arrangements. Passengers who have booked tickets under the same PNR (Passenger Name Record) must be seated together. The government has stated that adjacent seating should be "preferred" in such cases, making travel more convenient for families and groups.

Clear policies for special items and pets

The ministry has also asked airlines to streamline policies regarding the transport of sports equipment and musical instruments. These guidelines must be clearly communicated to passengers and should remain within safety and operational norms.

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As per a report by the Hindustan Times, in addition, airlines are required to publish transparent policies for carrying pets, ensuring that passengers are well-informed before travel.

Airlines have been directed to strictly comply with passenger rights, particularly in situations involving delays, cancellations, or denied boarding.

To improve awareness, airlines must clearly display passenger rights on their websites, mobile apps, booking platforms, and airport counters. Information regarding passenger entitlements should also be made available in regional languages to enhance accessibility.